MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI GURUDAS KAMAT)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION
NO. 179 FOR 08.03.2011.
(a) to (e): There is no definition of `Road Rage` either in the Motor Vehicles
Act, 1988 or in the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Road rage is the commonly used phrase
for dangerous/violent or angry behaviour by a driver of an automobile or a motor
vehicle. Such behaviour might include rude gestures, verbal insults, making threats,
dangerous driving in a threatening manner etc. Road rage can lead to collisions,
altercations and assaults, resulting in injuries and even deaths. It can also be
seen as endangerment of public safety. All these offences are adequately dealt
with under the relevant provisions of the IPC and Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
`Police` and `Public Order` are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the
Constitution of India and therefore, the State Governments are primarily
responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime
and for prosecuting the criminals through the machinery of their law enforcement
agencies as also for protecting the life and property of the citizens. The Union
Government, however, attaches highest Importance to the matter of prevention of
crime and therefore, has continued to urge to the State Governments/UT
Administrations to give more focused attention to improving the administration
of criminal justice system and take such measures as are necessary for prevention
and control of crime.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), which compiles data on crimes in the
country under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL) as
reported to it by the State Governments/ UT Administrations, does not maintain
specific information relating to incidents of `Road Rage`. However, Delhi Police
has provided the following data relating to `road rage` cases:
Year No. of cases No. of persons No. of persons registered killed injured
2007 24 1 21
2008 48 - 42
2009 25 - 26
2010 20 - 29
(up to
30.11.2010)
There is no proposal to bring any amendment in the existing laws to classify
`Road Rage` as a separate crime. However, the Ministry of Road Transport &
Highways, which administers the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, had introduced a
Bill in May, 2007 in the Parliament for amendment of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988,
including enhancement of penalties for various offences like dangerous driving,
driving at excessive speed and drunken driving. The Department Related
Parliamentary Standing Committee had also examined the Bill and agreed to the
proposal to enhance penalties.
